# Gutenberg Project vs Open Library Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Open Library Reader at none against Gutenberg Project's 2. Open Library Reader also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Gutenberg Project's advantage is rating (3.3 vs 3.0) and review sentiment (41% vs 26%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Gutenberg Project sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Open Library Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Gutenberg Project holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 50 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Gutenberg Project's written reviews are positive against 26% of Open Library Reader's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gutenberg Project | Open Library Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.3 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gutenberg-project/id672017144/reviews)** | [3.0 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-library-reader/id1573989409/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 43 | **50** |
| Positive reviews | **40.7% of reviews** | 26.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 26 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [himalaya-soft](https://appshunter.io/developer/464715011) | [Loomis House, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573989411) |

## What reviewers say

### Gutenberg Project

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gutenberg-project/id672017144)

Access over 60,000 classic books and 7,000 human-read audiobooks from Project Gutenberg. Enjoy a beautiful reading experience with synchronized audio and text, intelligent table of contents, and personalized recommendations based on user data. Export books with notes and bookmarks.

**Highlights:** Access 60,000+ classic books, 7,000+ human-read audiobooks, Synchronized read-along audio/text, Intelligent Table of Contents, Big data-driven recommendations, Export books with notes/bookmarks

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Reading | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Listening | $2.99 | one-time |


### Open Library Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-library-reader/id1573989409)

Access and read millions of books from an online library. Organize your reading lists, track borrowed books, and discover related titles within a familiar reading interface. Requires an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Browse and check out millions of books, Track reading progress and wishlists, Built-in search and related title discovery, Shelf management and edition changes, Checkout tracking for borrowed books, Customizable reading interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gutenberg Project free?

Gutenberg Project is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Open Library Reader free?

Open Library Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Gutenberg Project or Open Library Reader?

Gutenberg Project is rated higher. Gutenberg Project averages 3.3 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Open Library Reader averages 3.0 from 50 ratings.

### Do Gutenberg Project or Open Library Reader have ads?

Neither Gutenberg Project nor Open Library Reader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gutenberg Project or Open Library Reader?

Gutenberg Project ships an update every 2 months, and Open Library Reader every 2 months. Most recently, Gutenberg Project was updated on September 23, 2026 and Open Library Reader on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*